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object！ The good old times； the grand old times； the great old
times！ THOSE were the times for a bold peasantry； and all that
sort of thing。 Those were the times for every sort of thing； in
fact。 There's nothing now…a…days。 Ah！' sighed the red…faced
gentleman。 'The good old times； the good old times！'
The gentleman didn't specify what particular times he alluded to；
nor did he say whether he objected to the present times； from a
disinterested consciousness that they had done nothing very
remarkable in producing himself。
'The good old times； the good old times；' repeated the gentleman。
'What times they were！ They were the only times。 It's of no use
talking about any other times； or discussing what the people are in
THESE times。 You don't call these； times； do you？ I don't。 Look
into Strutt's Costumes； and see what a Porter used to be； in any of
the good old English reigns。'
'He hadn't； in his very best circumstances； a shirt to his back； or
a stocking to his foot； and there was scarcely a vegetable in all
England for him to put into his mouth；' said Mr。 Filer。 'I can
prove it； by tables。'
But still the red…faced gentleman extolled the good old times； the
grand old times； the great old times。 No matter what anybody else
said； he still went turning round and round in one set form of
words concerning them； as a poor squirrel turns and turns in its
revolving cage； touching the mechanism； and trick of which； it has
probably quite as distinct perceptions； as ever this red…faced
gentleman had of his deceased Millennium。
It is possible that poor Trotty's faith in these very vague Old
Times was not entirely destroyed； for he felt vague enough at that
moment。 One thing； however； was plain to him； in the midst of his
distress； to wit； that however these gentlemen might differ in
details； his misgivings of that morning； and of many other
mornings； were well founded。 'No； no。 We can't go right or do
right；' thought Trotty in despair。 'There is no good in us。 We
are born bad！'
But Trotty had a father's heart within him； which had somehow got
into his breast in spite of this decree； and he could not bear that
Meg； in the blush of her brief joy； should have her fortune read by
these wise gentlemen。 'God help her；' thought poor Trotty。 'She
will know it soon enough。'
He anxiously signed； therefore； to the young smith； to take her
away。 But he was so busy； talking to her softly at a little
distance； that he only became conscious of this desire；
simultaneously with Alderman Cute。 Now； the Alderman had not yet
had his say； but HE was a philosopher； too … practical； though！
Oh； very practical … and； as he had no idea of losing any portion
of his audience； he cried 'Stop！'
'Now； you know；' said the Alderman； addressing his two friends；
with a self…complacent smile upon his face which was habitual to
him； 'I am a plain man； and a practical man； and I go to work in a
plain practical way。 That's my way。 There is not the least
mystery or difficulty in dealing with this sort of people if you
only understand 'em； and can talk to 'em in their own manner。 Now；
you Porter！ Don't you ever tell me； or anybody else； my friend；
that you haven't always enough to eat； and of the best； because I
know better。 I have tasted your tripe； you know； and you can't
〃chaff〃 me。 You understand what 〃chaff〃 means； eh？ That's the
right word； isn't it？ Ha； ha； ha！ Lord bless you；' said the
Alderman； turning to his friends again； 'it's the easiest thing on
earth to deal with this sort of people； if you understand 'em。'
Famous man for the common people； Alderman Cute！ Never out of
temper with them！ Easy； affable； joking； knowing gentleman！
'You see； my friend；' pursued the Alderman； 'there's a great deal
of nonsense talked about Want … 〃hard up；〃 you know； that's the
phrase； isn't it？ ha！ ha！ ha！ … and I intend to Put it Down。
There's a certain amount of cant in vogue about Starvation； and I
mean to Put it Down。 That's all！ Lord bless you；' said the
Alderman； turning to his friends again； 'you may Put Down anything
among this sort of people； if you only know the way to set about
it。'
Trotty took Meg's hand and drew it through his arm。 He didn't seem
to know what he was doing though。
'Your daughter； eh？' said the Alderman； chucking her familiarly
under the chin。
Always affable with the working classes； Alderman Cute！ Knew what
pleased them！ Not a bit of pride！
'Where's her mother？' asked that worthy gentleman。
'Dead；' said Toby。 'Her mother got up linen； and was called to
Heaven when She was born。'
'Not to get up linen THERE； I suppose；' remarked the Alderman
pleasantly
Toby might or might not have been able to separate his wife in
Heaven from her old pursuits。 But query： If Mrs。 Alderman Cute
had gone to Heaven； would Mr。 Alderman Cute have pictured her as
holding any state or station there？
'And you're making love to her； are you？' said Cute to the young
smith。
'Yes；' returned Richard quickly； for he was nettled by the
question。 'And we are going to be married on New Year's Day。'
'What do you mean！' cried Filer sharply。 'Married！'
'Why； yes； we're thinking of it； Master；' said Richard。 'We're
rather in a hurry； you see； in case it should be Put Down first。'
'Ah！' cried Filer； with a groan。 'Put THAT down indeed； Alderman；
and you'll do something。 Married！ Married！！ The ignorance of the
first principles of political economy on the part of these people；
their improvidence； their wickedness； is； by Heavens！ enough to …
Now look at that couple； will you！'
Well？ They were worth looking at。 And marriage seemed as
reasonable and fair a deed as they need have in contemplation。
'A man may live to be as old as Methuselah；' said Mr。 Filer； 'and
may labour all his life for the benefit of such people as those；
and may heap up facts on figures； facts on figures； facts on
figures； mountains high and dry； and he can no more hope to
persuade 'em that they have no right or business to be married；
than he can hope to persuade 'em that they have no earthly right or
business to be born。 And THAT we know they haven't。 We reduced it
to a mathematical certainty long ago！'
Alderman Cute was mightily diverted； and laid his right forefinger
on the side of his nose； as much as to say to both his friends；
'Observe me； will you！ Keep your eye on the practical man！' … and
called Meg to him。
'Come here； my girl！' said Alderman Cute。
The young blood of her lover had been mounting； wrathfully； within
the last few minutes； and he was indisposed to let her come。 But；
setting a constraint upon himself； he came forward with a stride as
Meg approached； and stood beside her。 Trotty kept her hand within
his arm still； but looked from face to face as wildly as a sleeper
in a dream。
'Now； I'm going to give you a word or two of good advice； my girl；'
said the Alderman； in his nice easy way。 'It's my place to give
advice； you know； because I'm a Justice。 You know I'm a Justice；
don't you？'
Meg timidly s